The day that Luis Rubialesy Juan José Hidalgopresident of Globalia, reached an agreement so that Falcon Travel was the airline of the Real spanish soccer federation, it was all handshakes, hugs and even passionate kisses. In the case of Hidalgo, the euphoria was no less: in four years, it is estimated that the collaboration would have earned Globalia around 80 million euros thanks to some expense items in which the Civil Guard even investigates possible “extra costs”. But, What did the RFEF get in exchange? Why was Rubiales in such a hurry to sign the agreement with Globalia once he arrived at the Las Rozas Soccer City? How do you know your managers?
These are some of the questions that the Anti-corruption prosecutor to the former federation president during his statement before the judge. In that interrogation, to which EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA, from the same editorial group, has had access, Rubiales was asked why Viajes El Corte Inglés, the previous operator of the RFEFby Halcón Viajes (Globalia) just a few months after taking office.
“It wasn’t just arriving and boom… I don’t remember how long it took, it would be, I don’t know, two weeks, two months… I just don’t know… I think it also arrived through an intermediary,” Rubiales responded about when and under what conditions the offer arrived. That, as explained by those who were present at his statement before Delia Rodrigothe magistrate who instructs the Super Cup case in a Madrid court, it was one of the few moments in which the former leader seemed doubtful.
If Rubiales took possession of the RFEF in September 2018, in November of that same year the four-year agreement with Globalia Meetings & Events was already closed. “They made an offer that was not just about getting tickets [de avión]but they also gave us a financial amount and we were able, in truth, to obtain a economic benefit for something for which nothing was obtained before,” explained Rubiales. That “benefit” that the former president speaks of, sources from the RFEF point out to this newspaper, could refer to the sponsorship agreement that remains in force even today.
“And wasn’t that change related [de Viajes El Corte Inglés a Halcón Viajes] with what Globalia had had commercial relations with Sela [la empresa que representa los intereses comerciales de Arabia Saudí en el extranjero]”?” asked the prosecutor. “First news, word of honor,” the former president replied solemnly.
Relationships with your managers
From Globalia, a company that is not accused in this case, but that has been involved in investigations of alleged corruption As the Koldo case or this one from Super Cup caserecently decided to respond to the investigations of the Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard.
In that sense, the Hidalgo family company defends that its agreements with the RFEF “have always been framed in the activities of those companies and [que] have been absolutely adjusted to the existing price range in the sector”.
During the interrogation on April 29, and as EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA has been able to verify, the Anti-Corruption prosecutor placed special emphasis, however, on knowing the personal relationships of Rubiales with some of the members of the Hidalgo family.
To Juan José Hidalgo, president and founder of Globalia and with whom he staged the agreement, Rubiales says that he knew him from having been the president of UD Salamanca. “He’s a football man, but I didn’t talk or close anything with him,” he said.
The investigation, however, now seems focused on two other names of the family: Francisco Javier Hidalgo Gutiérrezson of Juan José and CEO of Globalia, and Javier Blanco, son-in-law of the owner, administrator of his fortune for three years and general director since 2010 of Be Live Hotels, the group’s hotel division. Rubiales, who had the learned answer, assured in both cases that he does not have the phone number nor does he know where any of them live.
Javier Blanco, in the center, with Nene and his wife. / EPE
“I will have seen Francisco Javier once or twice in my life and said ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’. I don’t know him, I don’t have the pleasure,” said Rubiales about the company’s second largest shareholder.
As for Javier Blanco, who the investigation suspects was a friend of Francisco Javier Martín Alcaide, alias Nene, a friend and partner of Rubiales, the former president seems to vaguely remember him. “Who is Javier Blanco? Ah… the son-in-law. I have been with him once in the Dominican Republic and another time that I couldn’t say, probably in Spain. He seemed very polite to me. I don’t know what he does.”
2024-05-10 05:22:03
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